City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn is a YA science fiction story set in space. Asa has been bred to take over her father’s tech empire. They excel at creating weapons and advances in AI technology. When her sister’s brain is used for an experiment, she flees with it to find her a new body. She crosses paths with Riven who has a rag-tag crew living in the slums and taking freelance jobs for the syndicates. One job is to catch Asa, but things get complicated. There is an undeniable attraction and curiosity for each other. They shouldn’t trust each other, but team up to save Asa’s sister. Asa also has feelings for Ty who is part of Riven’s crew. Hot on their trail is a mercenary named Morphett has ALL the cybernetic enhancements. She just won’t die or give up on catching them. There are lots of subplot missions, so it doesn’t skimp on the action. Asa has to reconcile her family’s shady past with AI. Riven has to come to terms with her danger first and ask questions later way of life if she wants to keep her crew together.
I’m always down for a cyberpunk story and gay romance. They have to hop planets and outrun a crazed cybernetic bounty hunter AND an evil AI. What’s not to like? I’m not familiar with Final Fantasy, but it turns out the author took big inspiration from that. The romance was decent, but I’m not so big on YA love triangles. The ending sort of solves it, but also teases it might return in book two. If you love Johnny Mneumonic, and William Gibson novels, and want to read more bi-rep romances, pick this up.